Young Adult Ministry

The Department of Young Adult Ministry (formerly known as the Department of College Ministry) oversees the ministries to our young adults ages 19-35. Prior to 2016, this Department focused solely on college students. Now the Department will expand its scope to all young adults ages 19-35 to help provide a consistent program as our young people transition from Teen SOYO to young adulthood.

Young Adults

The mission of the Young Adult Ministry is to aid in the spiritual growth of the young adults between the ages of 19-35 within the Archdiocese bringing them to a closer relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To accomplish this mission, we will foster a balance between the following areas of living the Orthodox Faith in Christ through:

Worship through the full liturgical-cycle of the Church including attending weekday services together, gathering at a local parish for its Feast Day, and the combined services at Diocese and Archdiocese gatherings.

Spiritual Renewal and Education through retreats, conferences, speaker series, pilgrimages, and bible studies which are aimed at the needs of our Young Adults.

Service through short-term mission trips and volunteer activities on a local level.

Fellowship through social outings, conferences, and gatherings

College Ministry

College Ministry keeps young Antiochian Orthodox students close to the life of the Church after they leave their home parish to attend college. In support of pan-Orthodoxy, the majority of the College Ministry efforts of our Archdiocese are done through the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF). OCF is the official campus ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. There are numerous programs that this ministry runs, such as annual College Conferences (one of which takes place at the Antiochian Village) and Real Break. The heart of the ministry is the on campus chapters that provide our students with a home away from home and a connection to Christ's Holy Church. As an Archdiocese, we support this ministry in numerous ways. Fr. Anthony Yazge serves on the OCF Board of Directors and is a member of the Executive Committee.

College Student Database

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), the college ministry of the Orthodox Churches in the United States, is developing and maintaining a database of all Orthodox college students. The purpose of this database is to assist the church in keeping our students connected to Christ and His Church. Students that are part of the database will receive regular communication from OCF regarding programs and ministries (i.e. College Conference, Real Break) that they may experience. Their contact information will be shared with the OCF chapters of the schools they are attending and/or the closest Orthodox Church as a means of offering support and encouragement to students while they attending school. We ask that you visit the OCF webpage to submit your college student's information. Let's keep our young people connected to Christ and His Church!

The Midwest Teen SOYO Basketball Tournament will take place in Canton, Ohio on January 13–15, 2017. Please see the flier below for a full schedule, and the liability form, which every teen must submit in order to participate. Sign up ASAP!

His Grace presented his talk in his usual joyous and intelligent manner. The topic was especially pertinent to us as college students, since our schedules have little routine and our futures seem both impossibly distant and frighteningly close. The words of His Grace brought peace to our minds as he spoke of the relationship we can have with a Creator who cares more that we are people of mercy, compassion, and love, than He cares whether we are lawyers, engineers, or doctors. We learned our vocation is to recognize and experience that relationship with God, reflecting His glory on the earth.

The impact His Grace left on our OCF has had us talking about his visit for weeks! We were grateful to be visited by His Grace and looks forward to his next visit.

The challenges and the stresses of the workplace seem nonstop, but three inspiring speakers reminded the 188 participants in the Orthodox Young Professionals Conference that God does not abandon them there. Rather, He seeks to use them for His glory, to let their light “shine before men” (Matt. 5:16).

Fulfilling a promise he made two years ago at the last OYPC in San Diego, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph presided over and interacted with the young adults at the conference sponsored by the Antiochian Archdiocese’s Young Adult Ministry from August 18-21, 2016, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He congratulated them for “dwelling in unity” (Psalm 133:1) to meet the challenges of managing their lives, caring for their families and succeeding in their jobs. But Sayidna Joseph stressed that they will be empty and unfulfilled without Jesus Christ and His holy Church at the center of all aspects of their lives.